25th SEA Games, Laos

(KPL) The Lao National Train Authority (LNTA) plans to increase two more rail trips daily on the train schedule service between Thanaleng?s Vientiane Capital and Nongkhai province, Thailand, following the increase in the number of passengers, said Chief of the Thanaleng Train Station Mr Phouttavanh Sonthavong, last week.
He added that the increment of the train trips was aimed at coping with the number of arrivals during the 25th SEA Games.

At present, almost 10,000 passengers a day take the train, said Mr Phouttavanh, Selling direct train tickets at the Thanaleng train station is an increasing factor of passengers. This service was attracting local passengers, he said.
So far, a train with two bogies has been availed for passengers but now it added more one bogie, he said.

In the near future, there will be more facilities set up at the station such as ATM, warehouse and restaurants.

The plan of increasing two more trips of train service is expected to be operational at the end of this year or before the 25th SEA Games.

Transport officials have confirmed the construction of roads to be used during the SEA Games to be held in Laos in December will be finished on schedule.

Contractors would add more machinery and work longer both day and night on some jobs that must be done before the rainy season.

So far 52 percent of the four-lane road linking Don Noun junction to the new national stadium in Vientiane 's Xaythany district has been completed.

Head of the capital's SEA Games road project, Mr Noulot Latxaphong, said asphalt sealing work was 70 percent complete and would be finished by the start of next month.

He said land levelling was mostly completed. Footpaths, traffic islands and light installations were next on the drawing board.

“The rainy season will not pose any challenges for us. But the most important thing we must do is get the asphalting done as other jobs can be done during the rainy season.”

The four-lane 21-metre wide road will stretch for 4.5km and will be paved with 5-cm-thick asphalt, with a lifespan of 10 years.

The road is expected to be complete by September, three months before the SEA Games start. The road, valued at US$3.7 million, is being built by the government with a loan from the Republic of Korea .

Meanwhile, construction of the six-lane 450 Year Road linking Dongdok Road to the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge in Dongphosy village, Hadxaifong district, has seen progress.

The contractor has agreed to focus on completion of a 4-km section to ease the flow of traffic during the SEA Games.

The main work for this road at the moment is land levelling and drainage installation, followed by paving.

The 450 Year Road is a result of the government's policy to improve access to rural areas, coinciding with the 450th anniversary of Vientiane as the capital of Laos in 2010.

Construction costs for the 33m-wide 20.3km-long road are expected to total US$37.59 million. It is set for completion on October 30, 2010.

Phontong is another road planned for completion ahead of the SEA Games.

The 90 billion kip (US$11million) road is 23 percent complete.

Project Manager Kounsombath Feaymanivong said the 12m-wide and 8.9km-long concrete road will be ready in October.

“From now on we will pave at least 100m a day. Now we're laying concrete at Mittaphab Hospital ,” he said.

“The rain is not a challenge for us, but our biggest problem is the overlapping between our project and other projects such as water pipes, which means pipes have had to be dug up.”

By Times Reporters
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